Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-12-27
Observation-Disclosures p. 1887.
80 Conareaslonal Rocord

The Congressional Record
Christmas comes not more regularly
than comes the annual article in many a
newspaper Directing to the publication
in the Congressional Rccord Of speeches
that were never delivered in either house
Of Congress. If the Record had no.
thing elSeto recommend it than ITS prac-
tice Of publishing said speeches, It's
coptinu 4 publication would be full
~ justified. Deny to the members
Of Congress the privilege of pub
fishing IN the record speeches
that were never delivered. and they will
be compelled TO utter them on the floors
OF the two houses The Record is
saiety-valye. 1T allows to escape stream
Of eloquence which concerns nobody out
side of the congressman own district,
and which can safely be Jet loose in that
journal without experiencing any apprc-
hens.on that such cloqucnce viii ever set
the Iiyer on fire.
The running debates in Congress ere
correctly reported in the Record. When
ever an interesting subject is up for
discussion there are always found men
capable Of treating it. 4 member
is not allowed 10 make in the
report Of his own speech any alterations
which would do injustice to the speech
Of any other congressman, or render II
Inappropriate to the place it occupies IN
the report. The alterations whicha con
gresham may make in the report OF his
speech are not such rs are calculated 10
mlslcad anybody. seeing that he Is al
lowed to make no alterations which shall
render his opponents remarks non-re-
sponsive to his own. Besides theworth-
less speeches there are many valuable
ones published in the Record which no
congressman ever delivered. but which
are none the worse for this reason.
These prepared speeches, written out in
full in advance Of the time when the
congressman intends TO ask permission
to print them in the Rccord,
often contain valuable statistics which it
would be bore to infict upon either
house of Congress, but which nevcrthe-
less the people are entitled to have.
Perhaps there are more campaign docu-
ments sent ont to the country in this
way than ought to be allowed to be
printed at the public expense but even
these documents are acceptable to the
masses. and are prepared for and brought
10 light in the Record 10y congressman
Of both parties, and paid for by the peo-
pie; and il is Of course the same people,
or due proportion Of them, who profit
Ivy these instructive speeches or docu-
mcnts.
We would not think for a moment Of
trying to do without the Rc62rd. 1t is
the only journal, or paper, IN which can
he found accurate reports of all that Is
said and done in Congress. The reports
made even in the New York papers, or
in whatever papers give the fullest
accounts Of the proceedings Of Congress,
are lacking always in technical correct
ness, and very frequently totally misstate
the points raised in debate, aud miSre-
present either the action taken or the
results that are expected 10 follow that
action. Nowhere else than II the
Record can an intelligent constituent
trace the footprints Of his congressman.
Nowhere else can be find a report Of
the yeas and nays on every
Lill or resolution or amendment
thereto upon which the two houses
vote. If Mr.. JONES or Mr.. SMITH fails
t. answer when the roll is called this
fact is reported in the RocOrd. SO if he
is paired. So il lac votes, whether upon
one side or the other The industrious
Shorthand reporter tells the whole story
for the Record. Nowhere else can ii be
found.
What real objection is there to pub
fishing speeches prepared 10y a congress
nan but never delivered? No objection
las ever been stated except the monde
livery. NoboJy seems 10 object to
even worthless speeches If only they
have been uttered in Congress. This
one objection amounts to nothing III
view Of the fact THAI I'll the congress
man has 10 do il in order TO silence all
cayillers Is to deliver his speech. The
delivery OF said speeches might cause
the long session OF Congress 10 be *
tended over months OF time which the
congressman now spend with their con
stituonts.
"Let well.enough alone Tho Re-
cord is valuable publication. A limit
might be prescribed if possible, as 70
how many pages Of extracts or tabular
statements any speech shall contoin
which is published 10 the Record with
out having been delivered ia Congress.